Multiple Use Systems: Experiences from Nepal

Indira ShakyaTechnical Adviser

Rainwater Harvesting Capacity CentreBiogas Sector Partnership Nepal

MUS Meeting 22-23 November 2010

Presentation Layout• Need for RWHS in Nepal• About Rainwater Harvesting Capacity Centre (RHCC)• Technologies in Use• Stakeholders/Partners• Project Process • Multiple use of RWHS• Impacts• Challenges• Way Forward

Role of Rainwater Harvesting in Rural Nepal

• The Water and Poverty Nexus– Time consumed in collection of water and fuel

wood– Small land holdings– Dependence on rainfall for agricultural production– Involvement of children in household chores

Primary Storage

Secondary Storage

Overflow

Plastic lined/compact

clay ponds

For Drinking and Domestic use, biogas operation

For Kitchen Garden For irrigation and

livestock, biogas operation

Rainwater from rooftop catchment

Need is for ………

About the RHCC• Established in 2006• Objective: To enhance rural livelihood through Rainwater

Harvesting interventionMajor Roles of the RHCC• Advocacy and Lobby• Capacity Building• Research and Development• Data Management• Monitoring and Evaluation• Quality Management• Promotion and Dissemination• Fund RaisingProgram Area Selection Criteria• Distance to exiting sources• Absence of any alternatives : boreholes, dugwells• Contamination of exiting sources

Technologies in Use

Water Demand used for design purpose

Information about the water use (current and future)

Drinking Other domestic

uses

Lives-tock

Irrigation Biogas

  HH com hh hh hh hh

Average Water demand per person - dry season.

0-1 0-1 1-3 

3-10 

0-1 

3-10 

Average water per person - rainy season.

1-3 1-3 10-30 

3-10 

3-10 

10-30 

Extra water for each activity (average litres per person per day)?

1-3 1-3 10-30 

10-30 

10-30 

10-30 

Technical DetailsSystems used Purpose Capacity Users Cost

Ferrocement Drinking, Micro irrigation

1 – 6.5 m3 Household Rs 9/l

Brick Masonry Drinking, Micro irrigation, operating biogas

6 – 20 m3 Household and community

Rs 8.5/l

Cement Concrete Reinforced systems

Drinking 20 – 100 m3 Community and Institutions

Rs 11/l

One Bag Cement Systems

Micro Irrigation 1 – 3m3 Household Rs 3/l

Plastic PondsSilpoulin, 150 GSM, IS 14611-1998

Micro Irrigation, livestock

18 – 72 m3 Household Community

Rs 0.2 to .75 /l

Plastic Containers Drinking, Micro Irrigation,

1 – 4m3 Household Institutions

Rs 15/l

Partnership in the RWH Program

BSPN-RHCCRWWH

Funded by RAIN

Foundation

RWHSUsers

National and Local

Government Organisations

Non-Government

Organisations

Micro FinancingInstitutes

Private Enterprises

Social mobilization, awareness and capacity building

For Planning, Financial Support, Policy intervention

Provision of loan for installation of the system

Operate, maintenance of system, monitor effectiveness of the system promote the product at local level

For RWHS construction/Fabrication of accessories and installation; provide after sales service, develop local capacity to take over the task.

Crucial Process in the ProgramIdentification of community

Form User Groups

Implementation

Awareness Building

Support in Planning Process

and fund Flow

Government

Local Bodies, Key

Informants

Micro Financing ,

Small Credit Groups

M&E

Capacity Building

Users

Practices, ; Resources and water Needs

User Norms,; Local Contribution ; Wealth Ranking; Gender and Ethnicity Issues

Water and Technical Quality; Adherence to Program needs and challenges

Local BodiesProgram External

StakeholdersActivity

Input

Elements of focus

LEGEND

Site selection; Construction; Operation; Repair Maintenance; Management and After sales service

Types of MUS systems implemented

• Upgrading by installing an ‘add-on’ to an existing system – biogas systems operation to meet drinking needs

• Single-‘plus’, in which a single-use system is designed to meet drinking needs with provision for using overflow for micro irrigation (by default)

• MUS by design where services are designed for multiple use from the start – drinking, operation of biogas systems, micro irrigation, livestock

Use of RWH by Purpose and Frequency, 2009 (No. of HHs)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Washing/bathing 2 11 2 21

Kitchen gardening: 1 1 12 5 17

Biogas plant operation 40 2 6 6 0

Cooking 0 0 15 10

Regularly Up to 3 months Up to 6 months Up to 8 months Occasionally

Improving the Technology

Improvement in accordance to Changes in User Behaviour

Activities and Achievements

Impacts as experienced by the users

• Biogas plant performance:• Sanitation and health• Time Save and its Utilization • Education Opportunities • Impact upon economic/ income generating• Social Impact

The impact of the multi-use water system (MUS)

• Families no longer have to make difficult journeys to riversMUS provides families with water for cooking, drinking, washing, feeding livestock and irrigating crops: reducing hazards and saving time upto 3 hours a day

• People can grow high value crops With more water available for irrigation, many farmers have high nutrition value vegetables for their families as well as grow new vegetables that fetch a high price at market.

• No more having to choose between drinking and farmingWith MUS, poor families have no more worries about whether to use the water they have collected for drinking or irrigation? With this new technology there is enough for both.

The impact of the multi-use water system (MUS)

• Households have access to clean energyHouseholds can also operate the biogas thus eliminating the task of collecting fuelwood and the burden t endure the smoky kitchen which has implications on their health

• Households also have enough water to meet their hygiene needsMany people in the poorest areas had no water for washing, which often leads to disease. Now, with an MUS pumping water into their communities, families have been able to regain their health and dignity.

• Women and Children have opportunities for livelihood enhancementBeing released from the task of collecting fuelwood and water , time saved provides opportunities for education for the children (girl child in particular) and income generation activities for women

Challenges

• Cost – high cost as compared to conventional water service

• Outreach difficulties due to terrain and scattered settlement of the community

• Low priority of the government• Low literacy level and awareness amongst the

most needy users • Lack of awareness amongst the decision makers

So Lets strive for a change …..

Way Forward• Private parties involvement for reducing cost of

systems and setting up local service centre• Continuation of educating/awareness for users

on different aspects• Multi-sourcing to be promoted specially for non-

drinking purposes• Income-generating programs to be focused on

for enabling higher economic benefits of the systems